Yorkshire (177 & 17-0) trail Durham (237 & 275-4 dec) by 318 runs

Yorkshire wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow can only watch as Mark Stoneman cuts a ball to the boundary on his way to an innings of 109 for Durham Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By Arindam Rej at Chester-le-Street

8:39PM BST 26 Apr 2013

Jonny Bairstow’s moment of frustration epitomised a difficult day for Yorkshire. The England batsman spilled a chance when Mark Stoneman edged behind off Tim Bresnan. Stoneman was on 11 at the time; he finished as top scorer with 109, as Durham secured a strong position.

It was the costliest of a series of missed chances in the field. Bairstow, the Yorkshire wicketkeeper who is a serious contender for the England slot left vacant by Kevin Pietersen’s injury, had also suffered a disappointing first-innings dismissal the previous day.

With Matt Prior, Jos Buttler and Craig Kieswetter all being capable batsmen who can keep wicket, Bairstow would not have wanted to fail with the bat or miss chances with the gloves at the start of this long summer with games coming up against New Zealand and Australia.

Liam Plunkett, the Yorkshire fast bowler, stood up for Bairstow. He said: “Wicketkeepers do drop them. The ball wobbles. You don’t see that. He dropped a chance but you’ve got to get on with it.”

Plunkett helped Yorkshire fight back with two quick wickets – after Tim Bresnan had also struck twice – in the afternoon session after a barren morning. It was reward for the former Durham and England fast bowler’s improved second-innings showing.

Plunkett admitted he had been nervous against his former county earlier in the match, but is relishing his new role at Yorkshire. “For me, it feels like the start of my career again,” he said.

Durham’s top four, who went into the game in poor form, took advantage of a relatively docile track with Stoneman the most impressive. Dale Benkenstein’s unbeaten fifty further pressed home the advantage before a late declaration, setting Yorkshire a victory target of 336.